The finalists of the 2023 Brilliance Awards are:
Brilliant Woman of the Year
Zaneta Adams, JD | CEO & Owner | River Acres Development LLC
Cara Anne Poland, MD, MEd, FACP, DFASAM | Michigan State University
Megan Schmidt | Senior Vice President of Employer Solutions | Priority Health
Brilliant Tenacity
Henrietta Hadley | Founder & CEO | Infinite Solutions Consulting Group
Alma Ross | Personal Lines Account Executive | Koop & Burr Insurance
Amanda Villarreal | Owner | AVWELLNESS
Brilliant Team Player
Colleen Laskowski | Director of Delivery | SpinDance
Katie Racey | Guest Experience Manager | Frederik Meijer Gardens
Kim Murphy | Activity Director | Heron Manor & Heron Woods
Brilliant Social Change Agent
Vanessa Greene | CEO | Michigan African American Health Institute
Jessica Johns | Co-Founder & Executive Director | The Community StoreHouse
Vonnie Woodrick | Founder | I Understand
Brilliant Mentor
Salina Bishop | Assistant Vice President of Development | Grand Rapids Symphony
Susan Negen | Co-Founder | WhizBang! Retail Training
Missy Summers | Executive Director | Festival of the Arts
Brilliant Entrepreneur
Robyn Gobbel, LCSW | Founder & CEO | Robyn Gobbel
Meredith Kent, MS, PA-C | Master Injector, Clinical Educator, Owner | Skin CoLAB
Rachel VanBuskirk, LMSW | Clinical Director & Owner | Portal Point Counseling
Brilliant Emerging Leader
Stormie Drake | Executive Director | READ Ottawa
Lindsay MacMillan | Head of Community Engagement | Sleeping Giant Capital
Caylie Peet, MS, CTA | Minority Business Program Manager | Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Brilliant Connector
Jennifer Pascua | Marketing Director | Broadway Grand Rapids
Kori Thompson, MBA | Advancement Officer | Wedgwood Christian Services
Amiee VandenElzen | Aread Lead for Business Development | Disher Corp
Brilliant Champion of Service
Rev. Joanna Bailey | Manager of Spiritual Care | Trinity Health Grand Rapids
Kristin A. Chmela, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-F | Co-Founder, Director of Training and Therapeutic Programs, Owner & Director | Camp Shout Out Inc./Chmela Communication Center
Nicholette Driggs | Development Director | Comprehensive Therapy
Brilliant Best Supporting Man
Craig Clark | Owner, Senior Counselor | Clark Communications
Omar Cuevas | Vice President of Investor Relations | Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Carlos Sanchez, MAD | Executive Director | Davenport University - Casa Latina